Tackling Leukaemia took part in the annual NAIDOC Round hosted by Power House Rugby Union Club earlier this month during their Dewar Shield clash with Kiwi-Hawthorn Rugby Club.

The day began with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony delivered by Uncle Shane Clarke from the Bunurong Land Council.

Tackling Leukaemia conducted a swabbing event at the game, recruiting new volunteers to the Stem Cell Donors Australia registry as part of its ongoing mission to increase life-saving donor matches.

The club also unveiled special NAIDOC jerseys designed by Tackling Leukaemia ambassadors Kelly Hammant (Wiradjuri) and Tracy Thompson (Dunghutti).

Both women were born in Queensland and have cultural roots in Kempsey, New South Wales.

The original artwork will soon be displayed inside the Power House Clubhouse.

Ms Hammet said the initiative is helping bridge a long-standing gap in access to treatment.

"Tackling Leukaemia is doing powerful work in bridging the gap for Indigenous and Pasifika communities affected by leukaemia," she said.

"What Kevin and the team are doing is helping to close the gap by giving these communities a greater chance at finding life-saving bone marrow matches - a simple swab could change everything."

She said the organisation's approach is building trust and cultural safety.

"By partnering with grassroots rugby clubs and community events, they're creating safe, trusted spaces to raise awareness and boost donor registrations," she said.

"Their efforts are not only increasing access to critical treatment but also strengthening cultural connection and community trust."

The jersey artwork tells the story of unity, triumph and legacy at Power House.

Twelve figures sit at a central meeting place to represent the club's first-grade premiership winners.

Surrounding them are four large circles symbolising the men's, women's, colts and juniors teams.

Two outer circles represent Stan and Hal, newcomers forging their own path into the club.

Ten red poppies pay tribute to those lost in action, while kangaroo footprints across the canvas represent the many nations and cultures that have joined the club's journey.

In addition to the event's cultural significance, Tackling Leukaemia shared news that a volunteer swabbed at their inaugural TL 10's Rugby Competition in March 2023 has been identified as a genetic match for a patient requiring a stem cell transplant.

Tackling Leukaemia President Kevin Maloney said the news confirms the importance of their work.

"This is what Tackling Leukaemia is all about," Mr Maloney said.

"To know that a life may be saved because of someone who signed up at the Rugby 10's event is a deeply moving and powerful validation of our mission."

Ms Thompson said the process to join the register is straightforward and encouraged more people to take part.

"I didn't know much about leukaemia – I always thought you had to have a lot of testing to get new bone marrow," she said.

"When Kev told me it was just a swab to go on the register, I thought it was just amazing.

"It's just taking a swab and it's not much to do that."

She is also please to hear of the massive growth and contributions TL is having on the donor registry.

"I love how it's growing and Kev just mentioned recently a swab they did came up as a match," she said.

"It's simple – if more people can jump on board, we can make a big difference."